TheNewspaper.com Roundup: November 14, 2012

Each Wednesday, we’ll publish quick summaries of the articles from the last week on TheNewspaper.com. We’re doing this because these articles are often strongly connected to the issues that National Motorists Association members are interested in.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012Australia: Trading Halted on Failing Toll Road
The Australian Stock Exchange on Tuesday halted trading of BrisConnections, the long-troubled toll road firm. BrisConnections built and operates the A$4.8 billion Airport Link toll road in Brisbane that opened in July. Already the project is under water.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012Another California City to Put Traffic Cameras to Public Vote
Voters in Riverside, California will decide in June whether red-light cameras should be used in their community. The city council narrowly decided last month to renew the use of the controversial devices while also offering the public a chance to be heard. Documents show not only did the public in overwhelming numbers urged the council to drop the use of cameras entirely, but state officials also weighed in heavily against their use at specific intersections.

Monday, November 12, 2012Kansas City, Missouri Makes Red Light Running a Parking Violation
Running a red light in Kansas City, Missouri is now treated as if the owner of the vehicle parked illegally in the middle of an intersection under city code changes unanimously adopted Thursday. That makes it a crime to own a vehicle that is “located” within an intersection after the light turns red. Officials embraced this legal contortions to avoid having to offer full due process rights to motorists, since Missouri is one of the few states in the nation where red-light cameras are in use without the approval of the state legislature.

Sunday, November 11, 2012Belgium, Italy, Poland: Speed Cameras Bashed, Smashed
Last week vigilantes whacked a pair of automated ticketing machine with a sledgehammer in Lonato, Italy. Giornale di Brescia reported the devices were located just before the entrance to the San Zeno tunnel. The cameras are out of commission, and police have no idea who might be responsible.

Friday, November 09, 2012Australia: Government Report Calls for Speed Camera Refunds
Drivers in Victoria, Australia ticketed at intersections where the yellow signal timing is illegally short should receive a refund, the state’s Road Safety Camera Commissioner said in a report released today. Gordon Lewis, a former county judge, sent his recommendation to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services in response to signal timing at eight intersections where the timing has been deficient by as much as 1.5 seconds for up to seven years.

Thursday, November 08, 2012Colorado: Court Endorses Handcuffing of Innocent Motorists During Robbery Search
Police in Aurora, Colorado did nothing wrong when they handcuffed dozens of motorists and held them at gunpoint for an hour and forty-five minutes, according to a ruling issued last month. US District Court Judge William J. Martinez refused to play the role of a Monday morning quarterback in deciding whether the controversial mass detention violated the Fourth Amendment rights of drivers who had been going about their business on a Saturday afternoon.

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